Mangaluru: The 2nd Additional District and Sessions (Special) Court in Mangaluru has convicted four men in the 2018 gang-rape case and sentenced each of them to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment. The court also imposed a total fine of Rs 74,000 on the convicts after concluding that the prosecution had proved the charges beyond reasonable doubt.
The convicts were identified as Prajwal (33), Arun Amin (34), Aditya Salian (28) and Abdul Riyaz (40). The judgment marks a significant development in a case that shocked the coastal city nearly eight years ago. Proceedings against three other accused, who were minors at the time of the offence, are continuing before the Juvenile Justice Board.
Crime took place in 2018
According to the prosecution, the incident occurred on November 18, 2018, when a young woman had gone to a beach in Mangaluru with her male friend.
The two were allegedly cornered by a group of seven individuals, including three juveniles. The woman was then gang-raped, while the accused also allegedly intimidated the victims during the incident.
Following the complaint, a case was registered at the Mangaluru Women’s Police Station, triggering an extensive investigation by the city police.
The case drew widespread public attention because of the brutality of the crime and prompted a detailed probe by the investigating officers.
Investigation led to chargesheet
The investigation was initially carried out by then Police Inspector Kalavathi K and then Assistant Commissioner of Police Manjunath Shetty.
Based on the evidence collected during the investigation, the then ACP Srinivasa Gowda R later filed the chargesheet before the court against the accused.
The prosecution presented documentary evidence, witness testimonies and other materials during the trial to establish the involvement of the accused in the offence.
Court finds accused guilty
After examining the evidence and hearing arguments from both sides, Judge Jagadeesha V N held that the prosecution had successfully proved the charges against the accused beyond reasonable doubt.
The court sentenced all four adult convicts to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment. In addition to the prison term, the court imposed a combined fine of Rs 74,000 on the convicted persons.
The judgment brings to a close the trial against the adult accused after several years of legal proceedings.
Prosecution presented evidence
Public Prosecutor Jyothi Pramod Nayak represented the prosecution during the trial. The prosecutor examined witnesses, presented evidence before the court and argued that the material on record clearly established the guilt of the accused.
The court accepted the prosecution’s submissions and delivered the conviction after evaluating the evidence produced during the trial.
Meanwhile, the proceedings involving the three accused who were minors at the time of the offence are continuing separately before the Juvenile Justice Board, as mandated under the juvenile justice law.
The verdict is a significant milestone in the case, reflecting the completion of the trial against the adult accused while legal proceedings continue against the juveniles.